Breast Cancer for Beginners

Home
>
Breast Cancer
>
Breast Cancer for Beginners

Breast Cancer for Beginners

Introduction
Because of the social changes, which has brought increased number of workingwoman and hence delayed childbearing, there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has risen so has raised the modality of treatments and the success rates. Also scientists have devised methods by which the cancer can be detected in an early stage and it has been convincingly proved that early detection and treatment bears a better prognosis than the later stage.

Myths
There are many myths attached to breast cancer. Some think that any lump in breast is a breast cancer but to the contrary most of them are benign. Similarly it was a popular belief earlier that breast-feeding decreases one's risk of the cancer but that has been now found to be untrue. Some say that mammography makes the breast cancer widespread but it's not true. Similarly there are many other myths, which need to be cleared in mind of the general mass for the proper detection and management of the tumor.

Early detection
Breast cancer can be detected in an early stage if women are taught to self-examine their breast. In case of detection of any breast lump or of any slightest suspicion, mammography should be done to rule out any tumor. Mammography is a good tool to diagnose this type of cancer.

Statistics
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. It is said that every 2-3 minutes one American woman is diagnosed a breast cancer.

Cause
Although the cause is not fully understood but it is hypothesized that there are various factors such as genetic and environmental. The environmental factors are increased age, obesity, smoking and having the first child at late age.

Diagnosis
The findings that denote a cancer are single, non-tender and firm to hard mass with ill-defined margins. This can be later confirmed by mammography and biopsy. After the cancer has been diagnosed staging is done to find out the best treatment option as well as the prognosis.

Management
The management of breast cancer rests basically on two things. The first is the treatment and second is the counseling. The treatment can further be divided into three: medical, radiation, and surgery. The medical treatment consists of drugs such as tamoxifen, which is an anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethimide and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab. But similar to other drugs they have their own side effects profile. The side effects associated with tamoxifen are increased vaginal bleeding, endometrial cancer and cataracts. The aromatase inhibitors have the side effects of leg cramps, jaundice and weight gain while the monoclonal antibodies may cause sterility or certain birth abnormalities. Generally the radiation and surgery are the modalities, which are needed for the treatment to ward off the body of the cancerous growth.

Counseling
This is one of the most important parts of the treatment both before and after the surgery. The patients are to be taught that this is only another disease, which has treatment available, and persons can lead a normal life after that.

Latest research
Latest research is being done on both the surgery and the medicine. For the surgery, surgeons are trying to find out the best way of surgery so that post surgery the patients have minimal disabilities. Similar medicines with lesser side effects are being researched.

Suresh gupta writes about breast cancer topics.

In The News:

Medical Tactile, Inc. Announces a 3G-Wireless System for Breast Cancer Screening
MarketWatch (press release)
According to a publication funded by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, 1.6 million women worldwide were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and 425000 women died from the disease. Although early detection is the best means to a good prognosis for breast ...

and more »

Al-Arabiya
Rusty Link: The Lackluster Science Behind the Abortion–Breast Cancer Connection
Slate Magazine
Now, providers there must inform pregnant women about “the possibility of increased risk of breast cancer following an induced abortion,” the so-called ABC link. In the decade following Roe v. Wade, the occurrence of breast tumors in the United States ...
Saudi women take fight against breast cancer to Mount EverestAl-Arabiya
Breast cancer advocacy organizations target the under 45 patientThe Imperfect Parent
A woman's journey: destination Mount EverestPakistan Daily Times
New Zealand Herald -The Voice of Russia -HealthTechZone
all 12 news articles »

Jagran Post
Moderate Weight Loss Can Decrease Breast Cancer Risk
ABC News
Could moderate weight loss lower your chance of developing breast cancer? Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center think it's possible. The connection between obesity and breast cancer risk in women after menopause has long been ...
Dropping a Few Pounds Could Lower Breast Cancer RiskTIME
Small weight loss effectively reduces sex hormones linked with breast cancerFox News
Dieting May Lower Hormone Levels Tied to Breast CancerU.S. News & World Report
Jagran Post -Globe and Mail -Seattle Post Intelligencer
all 54 news articles »

ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)
Questions about Valley breast cancer charity, where donation money is really used
ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)
When Pat Elliot of Phoenix received what she called an "aggressive" call from a telemarketer representing The Breast Cancer Society, Inc., she was concerned. “It does not appear that patients with breast cancer are being served,” she said.

and more »

Firstpost
New breast cancer test to predict return of tumour post surgery
Daily News & Analysis
A breast cancer test that could spare thousands of women the ordeal of chemotherapy could be available in the UK this year. The test costs just £120 a time and can accurately predict whether a tumour is likely to return after it has been surgically ...
Now, a breast cancer test to predict if tumour will recurBusiness Standard
Find out cheap if breast cancer tumour will returnFirstpost

all 10 news articles »

Galena Biopharma's Breast Cancer Vaccine Sprouts More Red Flags
TheStreet.com
By Adam Feuerstein 05/22/12 - 02:23 PM EDT LAKE OSWEGO, Oregon (TheStreet) -- More red flags have been found staked into Galena Biopharma's(GALE) breast cancer vaccine NeuVax. Updated, 60-month follow-up results from a Neuvax phase II study scheduled ...
Galena Biopharma With Near Term ASCO CatalystSeeking Alpha

all 2 news articles »

Breast cancer clinical trial tests combo of heat shock protein inhibitor and ...
Medical Xpress
Researchers have theorized that inhibiting HSP90 just might render breast cancer cells less likely to escape the challenge posed by cutting off their ability to use estrogen. Such is the rationale for a new clinical trial that has begun enrolling ...

and more »

Breast MRI helps predict chemotherapy's effectiveness
Medical Xpress
Women with breast cancer often undergo chemotherapy prior to surgery. Research has shown that women who receive this treatment, known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, are more likely to achieve breast conservation than those receiving chemotherapy after ...
Breast MRI and Chemo EffectivenessIvanhoe

all 5 news articles »

Keeping breast cancer at bay: Doctors from China train at CentraState
News Transcript
PHOTO COURTESY OF CENTRASTATE MEDICAL CENTER Seven physicians from China traveled to New Jersey recently to learn about the latest imaging and interventional techniques to diagnose breast cancer as early as possible. From April 30 to May 5, ...

Sydney Morning Herald
Benefits of Hormone-Replacement Therapy Outweigh Risks, Reviews of Studies Show
Wall Street Journal (blog)
Much of that big government study was halted in July 2002 after data suggested that women taking estrogen-and-progestin replacement had a higher rate of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer than those on a placebo. Millions of women and their ...
Doctors rethink hormone therapySydney Morning Herald
Call for 'rational use' of hormone therapy near menopauseNew Zealand Herald
The rollercoaster ride of menopauseFond du Lac Reporter
WebMD.Boots.com -Telegraph.co.uk
all 190 news articles »

Google News